X-Ray Detection Structure with a Plurality of Scintillator Volumes in a Spatially Periodic Arrangement

An x-ray detection structure comprising:

• a plurality of detection layers, each respective detection layer comprising:
• a scintillator sub-layer having a plurality of scintillator volumes in a spatially periodic arrangement, the plurality of scintillator volumes spaced from each other and forming a scan axis at which x-rays from a scanning beam of x-rays transmitted through a target can be received, the plurality of scintillator volumes further configured to produce scintillation photons responsive to receiving the x-rays;
• a plurality of spacers in the scintillator sub-layer in a spatially periodic arrangement in the scan axis, the spacers configured to transmit x-rays from the scanning beam transmitted through the target, one or more respective spacers of the plurality of spacers situated between respective pairs of adjacent scintillator volumes of the plurality of scintillator volumes, the spacers being substantially transparent to x-rays;
• a wavelength-shifting fiber (WSF) ribbon sub-layer optically coupled to the plurality of scintillator volumes along the scan axis, the WSF ribbon configured to receive scintillation photons from the plurality of scintillator volumes as the scanning beam of x-rays scans and causes at least a subset of scintillator volumes in the scan axis to produce the scintillation photons;
• and
• a reflective sub-layer comprising a light reflector mechanically fixed with respect to the WSF ribbon and the plurality of scintillator volumes and configured to isolate, optically, the detection layer from other detection layer(s) of the plurality of detection layers.